Historic Need at Pantry: Food Drive Nov 21-22

More local residents than ever are relying on the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Hunger Task Force’s Food Pantry to feed themselves and their families.

In the first nine months of 2009, the Food Pantry fed 18,500 people – over 4,000 more than in the same period in 2008 – representing a 31% increase in demand.

“On top of this increase, since school started our numbers have steadily continued to rise,” reported Melinda Lehman, Food Pantry president. “By early November we were serving 75 more families – 252 more people – than we were serving at this time last year.”

“Another significant development is that we are serving more families with children,” Ms. Lehman noted, “which means that more children in our community are at risk of going hungry without our support. We are also serving a record number of large households – families with many children to feed, perhaps with other adult family members who have been forced to move in.”

To help meet the needs of the community through the upcoming holidays and beyond, the Food Pantry is conducting its annual “Have a Heart for the Hungry” food drive on November 21 and 22 at local markets. The food drive is held in partnership with the United Way.

Donations of non-perishable food will be accepted from 9 am-4:30 pm at the A & P in Mamaroneck, Trader Joe’s and Stop & Shop in Larchmont, and Food City in Harrison.

“This year the need is larger than ever, and we hope that the community’s generosity rises to meet that need,” Ms. Lehman added.

Volunteers Needed to Load: The Food Pantry is also looking for a small number of volunteers to help load the food that has been collected into trucks on November 21 and 22 from 4:30-6:30 pm. Individuals interested in helping out must be strong, but prior experience is not necessary. Volunteers are also needed on Monday, November 23 from 9 am-noon at the CAP Center, 134 Center Avenue, Mamaroneck, to unload the trucks and sort the collected food. Individuals interested in volunteering should call 698-3558 or email volunteer@LMFoodPantry.org for more information.

The Food Pantry distributes groceries twice each month on Tuesday nights between 7 pm and 8:30 pm and on Wednesday mornings between 9 am and 11 am. Volunteers are welcomed on Tuesday mornings from 9:15 am to 10:15 am to unload provisions from delivery trucks and late Tuesday afternoons from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm to pack groceries. To volunteer for one of these shifts, please call 698-3558 and leave a message or email volunteer@LMFoodPantry.org . Calls are returned in one week. To learn more about the Food Pantry and volunteering, visit www.LMFoodPantry.org.